Quranic root
وقي
w · q · y
Warding something away from something else by means of a protective barrier or other means.
The root develops from concrete protection and preservation into guarding oneself against harm, then into pious self-protection from sin and what is feared, with related nouns for protection, precaution, and protectors.
- Maqāyīs · row 5192
- Mufradāt · row 1606
- 8
- Quran-attested forms
- 10
- Quran senses
- 258
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
وَقَىٰ
waqāā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 16 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To protect or preserve someone or something from harm; to spare it from what threatens it.
A transitive use in which the protected person or thing may be expressed, while the danger or harm may be stated or understood. Passive forms mean to be spared or saved.
- Lane · entry 30635
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
ٱتَّقَىٰ
attaqāā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- Quran occurrences
- 166 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To guard oneself against harm or an unwelcome thing; to protect oneself by placing a barrier between oneself and it.
The guarded-against object may be expressed directly or understood. The construction may also describe using something as a protective means.
- Lane · entry 30637
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 39:24word 2
“will shield”
To guard oneself from sin and what may harm one in the world to come; to be pious or God-fearing.
A conventional religious use involving careful observance and avoidance of prohibited acts. Quranic translations may render it as fearing God, being righteous, or being conscious of God.
- Lane · entry 30637
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:197word 27
“And fear Me”
Quran 2:282word 28
“and let him fear”
أَتْقَى
ʾatqā
- Part of speech
- Adjective · Elative
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
More or most pious; more or most God-fearing.
An elative adjective of the pious, self-guarding branch; it may be substantivized, as in reference to the most pious person.
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 49:13word 16
“(is the) most righteous of you”
Quran 92:17word 2
“the righteous”
مُتَّقٍ
muttaqin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 49 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who guards himself from sin and harm; a pious or God-fearing person.
The Quranic plural forms designate people characterized by the guarding and religious observance expressed by اتَّقَىٰ.
- Lane · entry 30637
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:2word 7
“for the God-conscious”
Quran 21:48word 8
“for the righteous”
Quran 38:28word 12
“the pious”
تَقِيّ / تُقَاة
taqiyy / tuqāh
- Part of speech
- Adjective / Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Pious; God-fearing; characterized by guarding oneself from sin.
An adjective describing a person as morally self-guarded and observant.
- Lane · entry 30638
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:13word 6
“righteous”
Quran 19:18word 8
“God fearing”
Reverent self-protection or full observance of what is due in fearing God.
The noun occurs in the Quranic expression حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ, referring to fearing or revering God as He ought to be feared.
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:102word 7
“(that) He (should) be feared”
تَقْوَىٰ
taqwāā
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 17 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Pious self-protection from what is feared; religious piety and righteousness.
In the Quranic religious sense, it is preserving oneself from sin by avoiding prohibited acts and exercising careful observance; it may be translated as piety, righteousness, or God-consciousness.
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:197word 26
“(is) righteousness”
Quran 22:32word 8
“(the) piety”
Quran 91:8word 3
“and its righteousness”
تُقَاة
tuqāh
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A precaution or protective measure.
In the Quranic occurrence, the noun denotes self-protective precaution in a situation of danger or threat.
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:28word 21
“(as) a precaution”
وَاقٍ
wāqin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A protector or defender; one who wards harm away.
A substantivized active participle, with the protected party or danger supplied by context.
- Mufradāt · row 1606
Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:34word 14
“defender”
Quran 40:21word 30
“protector”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:2لِّلْمُتَّقِينَfor the God-conscious
- 2:21تَتَّقُونَbecome righteous
- 2:24فَٱتَّقُوا۟then fear
- 2:41فَٱتَّقُونِfear [Me]
- 2:48وَٱتَّقُوا۟And fear
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 9 Classical meanings
وَقَىٰ
To be cautious of something or guard oneself against it.
A self-directed cautious use, distinct from protecting another person or thing from harm.
- Lane · entry 30635
تَوَقَّىٰ
To guard against something; be cautious of it.
A Form V construction synonymous with guarding or taking precautions against a danger.
- Lane · entry 30636
وَقِيّ
Cautious and guarding oneself from sin.
A classical adjectival form referring to moral self-restraint.
- Lane · entry 30638
وَقِيَّة
A property or means by which one preserves oneself.
A protective thing or resource used for self-preservation.
- Lane · entry 30639
وِقَايَة
Excessive preservation or guarding.
An abstract noun describing an especially high degree of protective guarding.
- Lane · entry 30640
وِقَايَة
A preservative or protective agent.
A thing used to prevent harm, rather than the act or degree of guarding itself.
- Lane · entry 30640
وَاقٍ
A saddle that does not gall the back.
A specialized lexical use referring to protective properties of a saddle.
- Lane · entry 30641
وَاقِيَة
A preserver; a protecting one.
An agentive feminine form used for one that preserves or protects.
- Lane · entry 30642
أُوقِيَّة
An ounce, a unit of weight.
A technical measure distinct from the protection-related meanings.
- Lane · entry 30643
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The QAC group labelled تَقِيّ also contains the Quranic noun تُقَاتِهِ at 3:102; the public entry retains both lexical uses as separate senses.
English renderings such as “fear,” “righteousness,” and “God-consciousness” reflect different contextual renderings of the guarding-and-piety branch and should not be read as wholly separate root meanings.